The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-02-08
BY PROXY.
Miss Van Zandt Goes Through a
Mock Ceremony With
Spies Brother.

Chicago, Feb. The announcement is
made this evening that August Spies and
Miss VanZandt have been married by
proxy, the groom being represented by his
brother. A suburban justice of the peace
oficiated. When Sheriff Mahon, about
two weeks ago, issued the order to officials
of the county jail not to admit Miss Van
Zandt TO see Spies, it was thought that
the matter was settled but it now appears
neither of the couple abandoned their pur-
pose. The law about marrying by Ter
and marriages by proxy, vas looked up
but not line was found except In regard
10 a marriage by proxy. This was finally
decided upon and Justice Engleharit, in
the town of Jefferson, whose name figured
in the papers during the late months OF
the past year as denouncing the verdict
of the anarchist trial in public speeches,
was consulted. He gave it as his opinion
that marriage by proxy
would be binding in law if the proxy wa
made out in due legal form. He wa
commissioned to draw up a form of a
proxy. The document was not gotten ready
until last Friday. Early Saturday Miss
VanZandt and Gretchen Spies the sister of
August went out to Jefferson and called
on Justice Engleh ardt to get the proxy
and having secured the document went
direct to the county Jail with it. They
met the wife Spies brother Ferdinand and
q Mrs. Wendle and Miss VauZandts three
companions witnessed the signature of
Spies to the document by which be gave
full authority TO his brother Henry w.
Spies to represent him at the ceremony.
Mrs. Ferdinand Spies and Miss Gretchen
Spies signed the paper to witness August
Spies signature when the whole
party except Spies himself
went with Ferdsnand Spies
TO Justice Engelnardt's Office, they were
reinforced on the way by Miss VanZandt's
parents and Henry and Chris. SPIES, broth
ers of August. The journey to Justice En-
glehardt's Office was made on foot, it was
after three o'clock Sunday morning By this
time The justice again examined his law
books and the ceremony was performed.
Henry Spies answered to the name of Au-
gust Vincent Theodore Spies and under
this name was married to Miss VanZandt.
The bride and her parents went from the
Office of the justice to the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. erdinand Spies, not far distant, and
remained there over night. The license
has not been returned to the county clerk
a. required by Law. 1t was issued only
three weeks ago however, and the thirty
days allowed for its return have not yet
expired. Justice Englehardt is authority
for the statement that the marriage was
performed.
Spies declines to speak of the ceremony
and Miss VanZandt refuses to be iterview-
ed, or even to be seen Her father also
declines to talk but does not deny the
fact of the marriage. Sheriff Matson ex-
pressed great surprise and then promptly
said, off this action was taken for the
purpose of compelling me to consent
TO the visits of Miss VanZandt to the Jail,
it is mistaken course and will not avail"
Opinions from leading attorneys as to
the legality of marriage by proxy vary
somewhat. Nearly all of the lawyers in
the city are of the belief that it is illegal.